FinlandFinland (/ˈfɪnlənd/ ( listen); Finnish: Suomi
[suo̯mi] ( listen); Swedish:
FinlandFinland [ˈfɪnland]),
officially the
RepublicRepublic of
FinlandFinland (Finnish: Suomen tasavalta,
Swedish: Republiken Finland)[7] is a sovereign state in Northern
Europe. The country has land borders with
SwedenSweden to the northwest,
NorwayNorway to the north, and
RussiaRussia to the east. To the south is the Gulf
of
FinlandFinland with
EstoniaEstonia on the opposite side.
FinlandFinland is a Nordic
country and, together with Scandinavia, is situated in the
geographical region of Fennoscandia.
Finland's population is 5.5 million (2016), and the majority of the
population is concentrated in the southern region.[8] 88.7% of the
population is Finnish and speaks Finnish, a Uralic language unrelated
to the Scandinavian languages; next come the Finland-
SwedesSwedes (5.3%).
FinlandFinland is the eighth-largest country in
EuropeEurope and the most sparsely
populated country in the European Union. It is a parliamentary
republic with a central government based in the capital city of
Helsinki, local governments in 311 municipalities,[9] and one
autonomous region, the
ÅlandÅland Islands. Over 1.4 million people live in
the Greater
HelsinkiHelsinki metropolitan area, which produces one third of
the country's GDP.
FinlandFinland was inhabited when the last ice age ended, approximately 9000
BCE.[10] The first settlers left behind artifacts that present
characteristics shared with those found in Estonia, Russia, and
Norway.[11] The earliest people were hunter-gatherers, using stone
tools.[12] The first pottery appeared in 5200 BCE, when the Comb
Ceramic culture was introduced.[13] The arrival of the Corded Ware
culture in southern coastal
FinlandFinland between 3000 and 2500 BCE may have
coincided with the start of agriculture.[14] The
Bronze AgeBronze Age and Iron
Age were characterised by extensive contacts with other cultures in
the Fennoscandian and Baltic regions and the sedentary farming
inhabitation increased towards the end of
IronIron Age. At the time
FinlandFinland had three main cultural areas, Southwest Finland, Tavastia and
Karelia, as reflected in contemporary jewellery.[15]
From the late 13th century,
FinlandFinland gradually became an integral part
of
SwedenSweden through the crusades and the Swedish part-colonisation of
coastal Finland, a legacy reflected in the prevalence of the Swedish
language and its official status. In 1809,
FinlandFinland was incorporated
into the
Russian EmpireRussian Empire as the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland. In
1906,
FinlandFinland became the first European state to grant all adult
citizens the right to vote, and the first in the world to give all
adult citizens the right to run for public office.[16][17]
Following the 1917 Russian Revolution,
FinlandFinland declared itself
independent. In 1918, the fledgling state was divided by civil war,
with the Bolshevik-leaning Red Guard supported by the equally new
Soviet Russia, fighting the White Guard, supported by the German
Empire. After a brief attempt to establish a kingdom, the country
became a republic. During
WorldWorld War II, the
Soviet UnionSoviet Union sought
repeatedly to occupy Finland, with
FinlandFinland losing parts of Karelia,
Salla, Kuusamo, Petsamo and some islands, but retaining independence.
FinlandFinland joined the
United NationsUnited Nations in 1955 and established an official
policy of neutrality. The
Finno-Soviet Treaty of 1948Finno-Soviet Treaty of 1948 gave the Soviet
Union some leverage in Finnish domestic politics during the Cold War
era.
FinlandFinland joined the
OECDOECD in 1969, the NATO Partnership for Peace
in 1994,[18] the
European UnionEuropean Union in 1995, the Euro-Atlantic Partnership
Council in 1997,[18] and finally the
EurozoneEurozone at its inception, in
1999.
FinlandFinland was a relative latecomer to industrialisation, remaining a
largely agrarian country until the 1950s. After
WorldWorld War II, the
Soviet UnionSoviet Union demanded war reparations from
FinlandFinland not only in money
but also in material, such as ships and machinery. This forced Finland
to industrialise. It rapidly developed an advanced economy while
building an extensive welfare state based on the Nordic model,
resulting in widespread prosperity and one of the highest per capita
incomes in the world.[19]
FinlandFinland is a top performer in numerous
metrics of national performance, including education, economic
competitiveness, civil liberties, quality of life, and human
development.[20][21][22][23] In 2015,
FinlandFinland was ranked first in the
WorldWorld Human Capital[24] and the
Press Freedom IndexPress Freedom Index and as the most
stable country in the world during 2011–2016 in the Fragile States
Index,[25] and second in the Global Gender Gap Report.[26] A large
majority of
FinnsFinns are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church,[27]
and freedom of religion is guaranteed under the Finnish Constitution.

Etymology[edit]
See also:
FinnsFinns § Etymology
The earliest written appearance of the name
FinlandFinland is thought to be
on three runestones. Two were found in the Swedish province of Uppland
and have the inscription finlonti (U 582). The third was found in
Gotland. It has the inscription finlandi (G 319) and dates back to the
13th century.[28] The name can be assumed to be related to the tribe
name Finns, which is mentioned at first known time AD 98 (disputed
meaning).
Suomi[edit]
The name Suomi (Finnish for "Finland") has uncertain origins, but
a candidate for a source is the Proto-Baltic word *źemē, meaning
"land". In addition to the close relatives of Finnish (the Finnic
languages), this name is also used in the
Baltic languagesBaltic languages Latvian and
Lithuanian. Alternatively, the Indo-European word *gʰm-on "man" (cf.
Gothic guma, Latin homo) has been suggested, being borrowed as *ćoma.
The word originally referred only to the province of
FinlandFinland Proper,
and later to the northern coast of Gulf of Finland, with northern
regions such as Ostrobothnia still sometimes being excluded until
later. Earlier theories suggested derivation from suomaa (fen land) or
suoniemi (fen cape), and parallels between saame (Sami, a Finno-Ugric
people in Lapland), and Häme (a province in the inland) were drawn,
but these theories are now considered outdated.[29]
Concept[edit]
In the earliest historical sources from the 12th and 13th centuries,
the term
FinlandFinland refers to the coastal region around
TurkuTurku from
PerniöPerniö to Uusikaupunki. This region later became known as Finland
Proper in distinction from the country name Finland.
FinlandFinland became a
common name for the whole country in a centuries-long process that
started when the
Catholic ChurchCatholic Church established missionary diocese in
NousiainenNousiainen in the northern part of the province of Suomi possibly
sometime in the 12th century.[30]
The devastation of
Finland during the Great Northern War (1714–1721)
and during the
Russo-Swedish War (1741–43) caused
SwedenSweden to begin
carrying out major efforts to defend its eastern half from Russia.
These 18th century experiences created a sense of a shared destiny
that when put in conjunction with the unique Finnish language, led to
the adoption of an expanded concept of Finland.[31]
History[edit]
Main article: History of Finland
Prehistory[edit]
Main article:
History of FinlandHistory of Finland § Prehistory

If the archeological finds from
Wolf CaveWolf Cave are result of Neanderthals'
activities, the first people inhabited
FinlandFinland approximately
120,000-130,000 years ago.[32] The area that is now
FinlandFinland was
settled in, at the latest, around 8,500 BCE during the Stone Age
towards the end of the last glacial period. The artifacts the first
settlers left behind present characteristics that are shared with
those found in Estonia, Russia, and Norway.[11] The earliest people
were hunter-gatherers, using stone tools.[12] The first pottery
appeared in 5200 BCE, when the Comb Ceramic culture was
introduced.[13] The arrival of the
Corded Ware cultureCorded Ware culture in southern
coastal
FinlandFinland between 3000 and 2500 BCE may have coincided with the
start of agriculture.[14] Even with the introduction of agriculture,
hunting and fishing continued to be important parts of the subsistence
economy.
In the
Bronze AgeBronze Age permanent all year round cultivation and animal
husbandry spread, but the cold climate phase slowed the change.[33]
Cultures in
FinlandFinland shared common features in pottery and also axes
had similarities but local features existed. Seima-Turbino-phenomenon
brought first bronze artifacts to the region and possibly also the
Finno-Ugric-Languages.[33][34] Commercial contacts that had so far
mostly been to
EstoniaEstonia started to extend to Scandinavia. Domestic
manufacture of bronze artifacts started 1300 BCE with Maaninka-type
bronze axes. Bronze was imported from Volga region and from Southern
Scandinavia.[35]

In the
Iron AgeIron Age population grew especially in Häme and Savo regions.
FinlandFinland proper was the most densely populated area. Cultural contacts
to the Baltics and
ScandinaviaScandinavia became more frequent. Commercial
contacts in the
Baltic SeaBaltic Sea region grew and extended during the 8th and
9th Centuries. Main exports from
FinlandFinland were furs, slaves, Castoreum,
and falcons to European courts. Imports included silk and other
fabrics, jewelry, Ulfberht swords, and, in lesser extent, glass.
Production of iron started approximately in 500 BCE.[36] In the end of
the 9th century indigenous artifact culture, especially women's
jewelry and weapons, had more common local features than ever before.
This has been interpreted to be expressing common Finnish identity
which was born from an image of common origin.[37]
An early form of
Finnic languagesFinnic languages spread to the
Baltic SeaBaltic Sea region
approximately 1900 BCE with the Seima-Turbino-phenomenon. Common
Finnic language was spoken around
Gulf of FinlandGulf of Finland 2000 years ago. The
dialects from which the modern day
Finnish languageFinnish language was developed came
into existence during the
IronIron Age.[38] Although distantly related,
the Sami retained the hunter-gatherer lifestyle longer than the Finns.
The Sami cultural identity and the Sami language have survived in
Lapland, the northernmost province, but the Sami have been displaced
or assimilated elsewhere.

The 12th and 13th centuries were a violent time in the northern Baltic
Sea. The Livonian crusade was ongoing and the Finnish tribes such as
the
TavastiansTavastians and Karelians were in frequent conflicts with Novgorod
and with each other. Also, during the 12th and 13th centuries several
crusades from the Catholic realms of the
Baltic SeaBaltic Sea area were made
against the Finnish tribes. According to historical sources, Danes
waged two crusades on Finland, in 1191 and in 1202,[39] and Swedes,
possibly the so-called second crusade to Finland, in 1249 against
TavastiansTavastians and the third crusade to
FinlandFinland in 1293 against the
Karelians. The so-called first crusade to Finland, possibly in 1155,
is most likely an unreal event. Also, it is possible that Germans made
violent conversion of Finnish pagans in the 13th century.[40]
According to a papal letter from 1241, the king of
NorwayNorway was also
fighting against "nearby pagans" at that time.[41]
Swedish era[edit]
Main article:
FinlandFinland under Swedish rule

Now lying within Helsinki,
SuomenlinnaSuomenlinna is a
UNESCOUNESCOWorldWorld Heritage Site
consisting of an inhabited 18th century sea fortress built on six
islands. It is one of Finland's most popular tourist attractions.

As a result of the crusades and the colonisation of some Finnish
coastal areas with Christian Swedish population during the Middle
Ages[42]
FinlandFinland gradually became part of the kingdom of
SwedenSweden and
the sphere of influence of the Catholic Church. Due to the Swedish
conquest Finnish upper class lost its position and lands to new
Swedish and German nobility and to the Catholic Church.[43] In Sweden
even in the 17th and 18th centuries it was clear that
FinlandFinland was
conquered country and its inhabitants could be treated arbitrarily.
Swedish kings visited
FinlandFinland rarely and in Swedish contemporary texts
FinnsFinns were portrayed to be primitive and their language inferior.[44]
Swedish became the dominant language of the nobility, administration,
and education; Finnish was chiefly a language for the peasantry,
clergy, and local courts in predominantly Finnish-speaking areas.
During the
ProtestantProtestant Reformation, the
FinnsFinns gradually converted to
Lutheranism.[45] In the 16th century,
Mikael AgricolaMikael Agricola published the
first written works in Finnish. The first university in Finland, the
Royal Academy of Turku, was established in 1640.
FinlandFinland suffered a
severe famine in 1696–1697, during which about one third of the
Finnish population died,[46] and a devastating plague a few years
later. In the 18th century, wars between
SwedenSweden and
RussiaRussia twice led
to the occupation of
FinlandFinland by Russian forces, times known to the
FinnsFinns as the
Greater Wrath (1714–1721) and the Lesser Wrath
(1742–1743).[46] It is estimated that almost an entire generation of
young men was lost during the Great Wrath, due namely to the
destruction of homes and farms, and to the burning of Helsinki.[47] By
this time
FinlandFinland was the predominant term for the whole area from the
Gulf of BothniaGulf of Bothnia to the Russian border.
Two Russo-Swedish wars in twenty-five years served as reminders to the
Finnish people of the precarious position between
SwedenSweden and Russia.
An increasingly vocal elite in
FinlandFinland soon determined that Finnish
ties with
SwedenSweden were becoming too costly, and following Russo-Swedish
War (1788–1790), the Finnish elite's desire to break with Sweden
only heightened.[48] Even before the war there were conspiring
politicians, among them Col G. M. Sprengtporten, who had supported
Gustav III's coup in 1772. Sprengporten fell out with the king and
resigned his commission in 1777. In the following decade he tried to
secure Russian support for an autonomous Finland, and later became an
adviser to Catherine II.[48] In the spirit of the notion of Adolf Ivar
Arwidsson (1791–1858), "we are not Swedes, we do not want to become
Russians, let us therefore be Finns", the Finnish national identity
started to become established.
Notwithstanding the efforts of Finland's elite and nobility to break
ties with Sweden, there was no genuine independence movement in
FinlandFinland until the early twentieth century. As a matter of fact, at
this time the Finnish peasantry was outraged by the actions of their
elite and almost exclusively supported Gustav's actions against the
conspirators. (The High
CourtCourt of
TurkuTurku condemned Sprengtporten as a
traitor c. 1793.)[48] Swedish era ended to Finnish war in 1809.
Russian EmpireRussian Empire era[edit]
Main article: Grand Duchy of Finland
See also:
Finland's language strifeFinland's language strife and Russification of Finland
On 29 March 1809, having been taken over by the armies of Alexander I
of
RussiaRussia in the Finnish War,
FinlandFinland became an autonomous Grand Duchy
in the
Russian EmpireRussian Empire until the end of 1917. In 1811, Alexander I
incorporated Russian
VyborgVyborg province into the Grand Duchy of Finland.
During the Russian era, the
Finnish languageFinnish language began to gain
recognition. From the 1860s onwards, a strong Finnish nationalist
movement known as the
Fennoman movementFennoman movement grew. Milestones included the
publication of what would become Finland's national epic – the
KalevalaKalevala – in 1835, and the Finnish language's achieving equal legal
status with Swedish in 1892.

The
Finnish famine of 1866–1868Finnish famine of 1866–1868 killed 15% of the population, making
it one of the worst famines in European history. The famine led the
Russian EmpireRussian Empire to ease financial regulations, and investment rose in
following decades. Economic and political development was rapid.[50]
The GDP per capita was still half of that of the United States and a
third of that of Britain.[50]
In 1906, universal suffrage was adopted in the Grand Duchy of Finland.
However, the relationship between the Grand Duchy and the Russian
Empire soured when the Russian government made moves to restrict
Finnish autonomy. For example, the universal suffrage was, in
practice, virtually meaningless, since the tsar did not have to
approve any of the laws adopted by the Finnish parliament. Desire for
independence gained ground, first among radical liberals[51] and
socialists.
Civil war and early independence[edit]
Main articles:
Finnish Declaration of IndependenceFinnish Declaration of Independence and Finnish Civil
War

After the 1917 February Revolution, the position of
FinlandFinland as part of
the
Russian EmpireRussian Empire was questioned, mainly by Social Democrats. Since
the head of state was the tsar of Russia, it was not clear who the
chief executive of
FinlandFinland was after the revolution. The Parliament,
controlled by social democrats, passed the so-called Power Act to give
the highest authority to the Parliament. This was rejected by the
Russian Provisional GovernmentRussian Provisional Government which decided to dissolve the
Parliament.[52]
New elections were conducted, in which right-wing parties won with a
slim majority. Some social democrats refused to accept the result and
still claimed that the dissolution of the parliament (and thus the
ensuing elections) were extralegal. The two nearly equally powerful
political blocs, the right-wing parties and the social democratic
party, were highly antagonized.
The
October RevolutionOctober Revolution in
RussiaRussia changed the geopolitical situation
anew. Suddenly, the right-wing parties in
FinlandFinland started to
reconsider their decision to block the transfer of highest executive
power from the Russian government to Finland, as the
BolsheviksBolsheviks took
power in Russia. Rather than acknowledge the authority of the Power
Law of a few months earlier, the right-wing government declared
independence on 6 December 1917.
On 27 January 1918, the official opening shots of the war were fired
in two simultaneous events. The government started to disarm the
Russian forces in Pohjanmaa, and the Social Democratic Party staged a
coup.[not in citation given] The latter succeeded in controlling
southern
FinlandFinland and Helsinki, but the white government continued in
exile from Vaasa. This sparked the brief but bitter civil war. The
Whites, who were supported by Imperial Germany, prevailed over the
Reds.[53] After the war, tens of thousands of Reds and suspected
sympathizers were interned in camps, where thousands died by execution
or from malnutrition and disease. Deep social and political enmity was
sown between the Reds and Whites and would last until the Winter War
and beyond. The civil war and activist expeditions into Soviet Russia
strained Eastern relations.
After a brief experimentation with monarchy,
FinlandFinland became a
presidential republic, with
Kaarlo Juho StåhlbergKaarlo Juho Ståhlberg elected as its
first president in 1919. The Finnish–Russian border was determined
by the Treaty of Tartu in 1920, largely following the historic border
but granting Pechenga (Finnish: Petsamo) and its
Barents SeaBarents Sea harbour
to Finland. Finnish democracy did not see any Soviet coup attempts and
survived the anti-Communist Lapua Movement. The relationship between
FinlandFinland and the
Soviet UnionSoviet Union was tense. Germany's relations with
democratic
FinlandFinland cooled also after the Nazis' rise to
power.[citation needed] Army officers were trained in France, and
relations to Western
EuropeEurope and
SwedenSweden were strengthened.
In 1917, the population was 3 million. Credit-based land reform was
enacted after the civil war, increasing the proportion of
capital-owning population.[50] About 70% of workers were occupied in
agriculture and 10% in industry.[54] The largest export markets were
the
United KingdomUnited Kingdom and Germany.
World War IIWorld War II and after[edit]

The treaties signed in 1947 and 1948 with the
Soviet UnionSoviet Union included
Finnish obligations, restraints, and reparations—as well as further
Finnish territorial concessions in addition to those in the Moscow
Peace Treaty of 1940. As a result of the two wars,
FinlandFinland ceded most
of Finnish Karelia, Salla, and Petsamo, which amounted to 10% of its
land area and 20% of its industrial capacity, including the ports of
VyborgVyborg (Viipuri) and the ice-free
LiinakhamariLiinakhamari (Liinahamari). Almost
the whole population, some 400,000 people, fled these areas. Finland
was never occupied by Soviet forces and it retained its independence,
but at a loss of about 93,000 soldiers.
FinlandFinland rejected Marshall aid, in apparent deference to Soviet
desires. However, the United States provided secret development aid
and helped the Social Democratic Party, in hopes of preserving
Finland's independence.[56] Establishing trade with the Western
powers, such as the United Kingdom, and paying reparations to the
Soviet UnionSoviet Union produced a transformation of
FinlandFinland from a primarily
agrarian economy to an industrialised one.
ValmetValmet was founded to
create materials for war reparations. After the reparations had been
paid off,
FinlandFinland continued to trade with the
Soviet UnionSoviet Union in the
framework of bilateral trade.

In 1950, 46% of Finnish workers worked in agriculture and a third
lived in urban areas.[57] The new jobs in manufacturing, services, and
trade quickly attracted people to the towns. The average number of
births per woman declined from a baby boom peak of 3.5 in 1947 to 1.5
in 1973.[57] When baby-boomers entered the workforce, the economy did
not generate jobs fast enough, and hundreds of thousands emigrated to
the more industrialized Sweden, with emigration peaking in 1969 and
1970.[57] The
1952 Summer Olympics1952 Summer Olympics brought international visitors.
FinlandFinland took part in trade liberalization in the
WorldWorld Bank, the
International Monetary FundInternational Monetary Fund and the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade.
Officially claiming to be neutral,
FinlandFinland lay in the grey zone
between the Western countries and the Soviet Union. The YYA Treaty
(Finno-Soviet Pact of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance)
gave the
Soviet UnionSoviet Union some leverage in Finnish domestic politics. This
was extensively exploited by president
Urho KekkonenUrho Kekkonen against his
opponents. He maintained an effective monopoly on Soviet relations
from 1956 on, which was crucial for his continued popularity. In
politics, there was a tendency of avoiding any policies and statements
that could be interpreted as anti-Soviet. This phenomenon was given
the name "Finlandization" by the West German press.
Despite close relations with the Soviet Union,
FinlandFinland maintained a
market economy. Various industries benefited from trade privileges
with the Soviets, which explains the widespread support that
pro-Soviet policies enjoyed among business interests in Finland.
Economic growth was rapid in the postwar era, and by 1975 Finland's
GDP per capita was the 15th highest in the world. In the 1970s and
80s,
FinlandFinland built one of the most extensive welfare states in the
world.
FinlandFinland negotiated with the EEC (a predecessor of the European
Union) a treaty that mostly abolished customs duties towards the EEC
starting from 1977, although
FinlandFinland did not fully join. In 1981,
president Urho Kekkonen's failing health forced him to retire after
holding office for 25 years.
FinlandFinland reacted cautiously to the collapse of the Soviet Union, but
swiftly began increasing integration with the West. On 21 September
1990,
FinlandFinland unilaterally declared the
Paris Peace TreatyParis Peace Treaty obsolete,
following the German reunification decision nine days earlier.[58]

Miscalculated macroeconomic decisions, a banking crisis, the collapse
of its largest single trading partner (the Soviet Union), and a global
economic downturn caused a deep early 1990s recession in Finland. The
depression bottomed out in 1993, and
FinlandFinland saw steady economic
growth for more than ten years.[citation needed] Like other Nordic
countries,
FinlandFinland decentralised its economy since the late 1980s.
Financial and product market regulation were loosened. Some state
enterprises have been privatized and there have been some modest tax
cuts.[citation needed]
FinlandFinland joined the
European UnionEuropean Union in 1995, and
the
EurozoneEurozone in 1999. Much of the late 1990s economic growth was
fueled by the phenomenal success of the mobile phone manufacturer
Nokia, which held a unique position of representing 80% of the market
capitalization of the
HelsinkiHelsinki Stock Exchange.
Language[edit]
Main articles: Finnish language,
FinlandFinland Swedish, and Languages of
Finland
Finnish and Swedish are the official languages of Finland. Finnish
predominates nationwide while Swedish is spoken in some coastal areas
in the west and south and in the autonomous region of Åland. The
native language of 89% of the population is Finnish,[59] which is part
of the Finnic subgroup of the Uralic languages. The language is one of
only four official EU languages not of Indo-European origin. Finnish
is closely related to Karelian and Estonian and more remotely to the
Sami languagesSami languages and Hungarian. Swedish is the native language of 5.3%
of the population (Swedish-speaking Finns).[60]
The Nordic languages and Karelian are also specially treated in some
contexts.
Finnish Romani is spoken by some 5,000–6,000 people, Finnish Romani
and
Finnish Sign Language are also recognized in the constitution.
There are two sign languages: Finnish Sign Language, spoken natively
by 4,000–5,000 people,[61] and Finland-Swedish Sign Language, spoken
natively by about 150 people. Tatar language is spoken by a Finnish
Tatar minority of about 800 people who moved to
FinlandFinland mainly during
the Russian rule from the 1870s until the 1920s.[62]
The Sami language is an official language to the north, in Lapland or
in northern Lapland, where are the Sami people, numbering around
7,000[63] and recognized as an indigenous people. About a quarter of
them speak a Sami language as their mother tongue.[64] The Sami
languages that are spoken in
FinlandFinland are Northern Sami, Inari Sami,
and Skolt Sami.[note 1]
The rights of minority groups (in particular Sami, Swedish speakers,
and Romani people) are protected by the constitution.[65]
The largest immigrant languages are Russian (1.4%), Estonian (0.9%),
Arabic (0.4%), Somali (0.3%) and English (0.3%).[60] English is
studied by most pupils as a compulsory subject from the third or fifth
grade (at 9 or 11 years of age respectively) in the comprehensive
school (in some schools other languages can be chosen instead).
German, French, and Russian can be studied as second foreign languages
from the eighth grade (at 14 years of age; some schools may offer
other options).[citation needed]
Geography[edit]
Main article: Geography of Finland
See also: List of cities and towns in Finland, List of lakes in
Finland, List of national parks of Finland, and Environmental issues
in Finland
Lying approximately between latitudes 60° and 70° N, and longitudes
20° and 32° E,
FinlandFinland is one of the world's northernmost countries.
Of world capitals, only
ReykjavíkReykjavík lies more to the north than
Helsinki. The distance from the southernmost point –
HankoHanko in
UusimaaUusimaa – to the northernmost –
NuorgamNuorgam in Lapland – is 1,160
kilometres (720 mi).
FinlandFinland has about 168,000 lakes (of area larger than 500 m2 or
0.12 acres) and 179,000 islands.[66] Its largest lake, Saimaa, is the
fourth largest in Europe. The
Finnish LakelandFinnish Lakeland is the area with the
most lakes in the country. The greatest concentration of islands is
found in the southwest, in the
Archipelago SeaArchipelago Sea between continental
FinlandFinland and the main island of Åland.
Much of the geography of
FinlandFinland is a result of the Ice Age. The
glaciers were thicker and lasted longer in
FennoscandiaFennoscandia compared with
the rest of Europe. Their eroding effects have left the Finnish
landscape mostly flat with few hills and fewer mountains. Its highest
point, the
HaltiHalti at 1,324 metres (4,344 ft), is found in the
extreme north of Lapland at the border between
FinlandFinland and Norway. The
highest mountain whose peak is entirely in
FinlandFinland is
RidnitšohkkaRidnitšohkka at
1,316 m (4,318 ft), directly adjacent to Halti.

The whooper swan, Finland's national bird

The retreating glaciers have left the land with morainic deposits in
formations of eskers. These are ridges of stratified gravel and sand,
running northwest to southeast, where the ancient edge of the glacier
once lay. Among the biggest of these are the three Salpausselkä
ridges that run across southern Finland.
Having been compressed under the enormous weight of the glaciers,
terrain in
FinlandFinland is rising due to the post-glacial rebound. The
effect is strongest around the Gulf of Bothnia, where land steadily
rises about 1 cm (0.4 in) a year. As a result, the old sea
bottom turns little by little into dry land: the surface area of the
country is expanding by about 7 square kilometres
(2.7 sq mi) annually.[67] Relatively speaking,
FinlandFinland is
rising from the sea.[68]
The landscape is covered mostly by coniferous taiga forests and fens,
with little cultivated land. Of the total area 10% is lakes, rivers
and ponds, and 78% forest. The forest consists of pine, spruce, birch,
and other species.[69]
FinlandFinland is the largest producer of wood in
EuropeEurope and among the largest in the world. The most common type of
rock is granite. It is a ubiquitous part of the scenery, visible
wherever there is no soil cover.
MoraineMoraine or till is the most common
type of soil, covered by a thin layer of humus of biological origin.
PodzolPodzol profile development is seen in most forest soils except where
drainage is poor. Gleysols and peat bogs occupy poorly drained areas.
Biodiversity[edit]
Main articles:
Fauna of Finland and Wildlife of Finland
Phytogeographically,
FinlandFinland is shared between the Arctic, central
European, and northern European provinces of the Circumboreal Region
within the Boreal Kingdom. According to the WWF, the territory of
FinlandFinland can be subdivided into three ecoregions: the Scandinavian and
Russian taiga, Sarmatic mixed forests, and Scandinavian Montane Birch
forest and grasslands.
TaigaTaiga covers most of
FinlandFinland from northern
regions of southern provinces to the north of Lapland. On the
southwestern coast, south of the Helsinki-Rauma line, forests are
characterized by mixed forests, that are more typical in the Baltic
region. In the extreme north of Finland, near the tree line and Arctic
Ocean, Montane
BirchBirch forests are common.

The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is Finland's national animal.

Similarly,
FinlandFinland has a diverse and extensive range of fauna. There
are at least sixty native mammalian species, 248 breeding bird
species, over 70 fish species, and 11 reptile and frog species present
today, many migrating from neighboring countries thousands of years
ago. Large and widely recognized wildlife mammals found in
FinlandFinland are
the brown bear (the national animal), gray wolf, wolverine, and elk.
Three of the more striking birds are the whooper swan, a large
European swan and the national bird of Finland; the Western
capercaillie, a large, black-plumaged member of the grouse family; and
the Eurasian eagle-owl. The latter is considered an indicator of
old-growth forest connectivity, and has been declining because of
landscape fragmentation.[70] The most common breeding birds are the
willow warbler, common chaffinch, and redwing.[71] Of some seventy
species of freshwater fish, the northern pike, perch, and others are
plentiful.
Atlantic salmonAtlantic salmon remains the favourite of fly rod
enthusiasts.
The endangered
SaimaaSaimaa ringed seal, one of only three lake seal species
in the world, exists only in the
SaimaaSaimaa lake system of southeastern
Finland, down to only 300 seals today. It has become the emblem of the
Finnish Association for Nature Conservation.[72]
Climate[edit]
Main article: Climate of Finland

The main factor influencing Finland's climate is the country's
geographical position between the 60th and 70th northern parallels in
the Eurasian continent's coastal zone. In the Köppen climate
classification, the whole of
FinlandFinland lies in the boreal zone,
characterized by warm summers and freezing winters. Within the
country, the temperateness varies considerably between the southern
coastal regions and the extreme north, showing characteristics of both
a maritime and a continental climate.
FinlandFinland is near enough to the
Atlantic Ocean to be continuously warmed by the Gulf Stream. The Gulf
Stream combines with the moderating effects of the
Baltic SeaBaltic Sea and
numerous inland lakes to explain the unusually warm climate compared
with other regions that share the same latitude, such as Alaska,
Siberia, and southern Greenland.[73]
Winters in southern
FinlandFinland (when mean daily temperature remains below
0 °C or 32 °F) are usually about 100 days long, and in the
inland the snow typically covers the land from about late November to
April, and on the coastal areas such as Helsinki, snow often covers
the land from late December to late March.[74] Even in the south, the
harshest winter nights can see the temperatures fall to −30 °C
(−22 °F) although on coastal areas like Helsinki, temperatures
below −30 °C (−22 °F) are very rare. Climatic summers
(when mean daily temperature remains above 10 °C or 50 °F)
in southern
FinlandFinland last from about late May to mid-September, and in
the inland, the warmest days of July can reach over 35 °C
(95 °F).[73] Although most of
FinlandFinland lies on the taiga belt,
the southernmost coastal regions are sometimes classified as
hemiboreal.[75]

Pyhä-Luosto National Park, Lapland

In northern Finland, particularly in Lapland, the winters are long and
cold, while the summers are relatively warm but short. The most severe
winter days in Lapland can see the temperature fall down to
−45 °C (−49 °F). The winter of the north lasts for
about 200 days with permanent snow cover from about mid-October to
early May. Summers in the north are quite short, only two to three
months, but can still see maximum daily temperatures above 25 °C
(77 °F) during heat waves.[73] No part of
FinlandFinland has Arctic
tundra, but
Alpine tundraAlpine tundra can be found at the fells Lapland.[75]
The Finnish climate is suitable for cereal farming only in the
southernmost regions, while the northern regions are suitable for
animal husbandry.[76]
A quarter of Finland's territory lies within the
Arctic CircleArctic Circle and the
midnight sun can be experienced for more days the farther north one
travels. At Finland's northernmost point, the sun does not set for 73
consecutive days during summer, and does not rise at all for 51 days
during winter.[73]
Regions[edit]
Main article: Regions of Finland
FinlandFinland consists of 19 regions called 'maakunta' in Finnish and
'landskap' in Swedish. The regions are governed by regional councils
which serve as forums of cooperation for the municipalities of a
region. The main tasks of the regions are regional planning and
development of enterprise and education. In addition, the public
health services are usually organized on the basis of regions.
Currently, the only region where a popular election is held for the
council is Kainuu. Other regional councils are elected by municipal
councils, each municipality sending representatives in proportion to
its population.
In addition to inter-municipal cooperation, which is the
responsibility of regional councils, each region has a state
Employment and Economic Development Centre which is responsible for
the local administration of labour, agriculture, fisheries, forestry,
and entrepreneurial affairs. The
Finnish Defence ForcesFinnish Defence Forces regional
offices are responsible for the regional defence preparations and for
the administration of conscription within the region.
Regions represent dialectal, cultural, and economic variations better
than the former provinces, which were purely administrative divisions
of the central government. Historically, regions are divisions of
historical provinces of Finland, areas which represent dialects and
culture more accurately.
Six Regional State Administrative Agencies were created by the state
of
FinlandFinland in 2010, each of them responsible for one of the regions
called alue in Finnish and region in Swedish; in addition,
ÅlandÅland was
designated a seventh region. These take over some of the tasks of the
earlier
Provinces of FinlandProvinces of Finland (the läänis), which were abolished.[77]

The region of Eastern
UusimaaUusimaa was consolidated with
UusimaaUusimaa on 1
January 2011.[79]
Administrative divisions[edit]
Main articles: Administrative divisions of Finland, Regions of
Finland, Sub-regions of Finland, Municipalities of Finland, and
Historical provinces of Finland
Further information: List of Finnish municipalities, List of Finnish
municipalities by population,
List of Finnish municipalities by area,
and Former municipalities of Finland
The fundamental administrative divisions of the country are the
municipalities, which may also call themselves towns or cities. They
account for half of public spending. Spending is financed by municipal
income tax, state subsidies, and other revenue. As of 2017[update],
there are 311 municipalities,[9] and most have fewer than 6,000
residents.
In addition to municipalities, two intermediate levels are defined.
Municipalities co-operate in seventy sub-regions and nineteen regions.
These are governed by the member municipalities and have only limited
powers. The autonomous province of
ÅlandÅland has a permanent
democratically elected regional council.
Sami peopleSami people have a
semi-autonomous Sami native region in Lapland for issues on language
and culture.
In the following chart, the number of inhabitants includes those
living in the entire municipality (kunta/kommun), not just in the
built-up area. The land area is given in km², and the density in
inhabitants per km² (land area). The figures are as of 31 August
2017. The capital region – comprising Helsinki, Vantaa,
EspooEspoo and
KauniainenKauniainen – forms a continuous conurbation of over 1.1 million
people. However, common administration is limited to voluntary
cooperation of all municipalities, e.g. in
HelsinkiHelsinki Metropolitan Area
Council.

Politics[edit]
Main article: Politics of Finland
See also:
List of political parties in FinlandList of political parties in Finland and Human rights in
Finland
Constitution[edit]
The
Constitution of FinlandConstitution of Finland defines the political system;
FinlandFinland is a
parliamentary republic within the framework of a representative
democracy. The Prime Minister is the country's most powerful person.
The current version of the constitution was enacted on 1 March 2000,
and was amended on 1 March 2012. Citizens can run and vote in
parliamentary, municipal, presidential and
European UnionEuropean Union elections.
President[edit]
Main article: President of Finland
The head of state of
FinlandFinland is President of the
RepublicRepublic of Finland
(in Finnish: Suomen tasavallan presidentti; in Swedish: Republiken
Finlands president).
FinlandFinland has had for most of its independence a
semi-presidential system, but in the last few decades the powers of
the President have been diminished. In constitution amendments, which
came into effect in 1991 or 1992 and also with a new drafted
constitution of 2000, amended in 2012, the President's position has
become primarily a ceremonial office. However, the President still
leads the nation's foreign politics together with the Council of State
and is the chief-in-command of the Defence Forces.[1] The position
still does entail some powers, including responsibility for foreign
policy (excluding affairs related to the European Union) in
cooperation with the cabinet, being the head of the armed forces, some
decree powers, and some appointive powers. Direct, one- or two-stage
elections are used to elect the president for a term of six years and
for a maximum of two consecutive terms. The current president is Sauli
Niinistö; he took office on 1 March 2012. Former presidents were K.
J. Ståhlberg (1919–1925), L. K. Relander (1925–1931), P. E.
Svinhufvud (1931–1937),
Kyösti KallioKyösti Kallio (1937–1940), Risto Ryti
(1940–1944), C. G. E. Mannerheim (1944–1946), J. K. Paasikivi
(1946–1956),
Urho KekkonenUrho Kekkonen (1956–1982), Mauno Koivisto
(1982–1994),
Martti AhtisaariMartti Ahtisaari (1994–2000), and Tarja Halonen
(2000–2012).
The current president was elected from the ranks of the National
Coalition Party for the first time since 1946. The presidency between
1946 and the present was instead held by a member of the Social
Democratic Party or the Centre Party.
Parliament[edit]
Main article: Parliament of Finland

The Parliament of Finland's main building.

The 200-member unicameral
Parliament of FinlandParliament of Finland (Finnish: Eduskunta,
Swedish: Riksdag) exercises supreme legislative authority in the
country. It may alter the constitution and ordinary laws, dismiss the
cabinet, and override presidential vetoes. Its acts are not subject to
judicial review; the constitutionality of new laws is assessed by the
parliament's constitutional law committee. The parliament is elected
for a term of four years using the proportional
D'Hondt method within
a number of multi-seat constituencies through open list multi-member
districts. Various parliament committees listen to experts and prepare
legislation. The speaker of the parliament is
Paula RisikkoPaula Risikko (National
Coalition).[82]
Since universal suffrage was introduced in 1906, the parliament has
been dominated by the Centre Party (former Agrarian Union), the
National CoalitionNational Coalition Party, and the Social Democrats. These parties have
enjoyed approximately equal support, and their combined vote has
totalled about 65–80% of all votes. Their lowest common total of
MPs, 121, was reached in the 2011 elections. For a few decades after
1944, the Communists were a strong fourth party. Due to the electoral
system of proportional representation, and the relative reluctance of
voters to switch their support between parties, the relative strengths
of the parties have commonly varied only slightly from one election to
another. However, there have been some long-term trends, such as the
rise and fall of the Communists during the Cold War; the steady
decline into insignificance of the Liberals and its predecessors from
1906 to 1980; and the rise of the
Green LeagueGreen League since 1983. In the 2011
elections, the
FinnsFinns Party achieved exceptional success, increasing
its representation from 5 to 39 seats, surpassing the Centre
Party.[83]
The autonomous province of Åland, which forms a federacy with
Finland, elects one member to the parliament, who traditionally joins
the parliamentary group of the Swedish People's Party of Finland. (The
province also holds elections for its own permanent regional council,
and in the 2011 elections,
ÅlandÅland Centre was the largest party.)

The Parliament can be dissolved by a recommendation of the Prime
Minister, endorsed by the President. This procedure has never been
used, although the parliament was dissolved eight times under the
pre-2000 constitution, when this action was the sole prerogative of
the president.
After the parliamentary elections on 19 April 2015, the seats were
divided among eight parties as follows:[84]

Cabinet[edit]
See also: List of Female Cabinet Ministers in Finland
After parliamentary elections, the parties negotiate among themselves
on forming a new cabinet (the Finnish Government), which then has to
be approved by a simple majority vote in the parliament. The cabinet
can be dismissed by a parliamentary vote of no confidence, although
this rarely happens (the last time in 1957), as the parties
represented in the cabinet usually make up a majority in the
parliament.[85]
The cabinet exercises most executive powers, and originates most of
the bills that the parliament then debates and votes on. It is headed
by the Prime Minister of Finland, and consists of him or her, of other
ministers, and of the Chancellor of Justice. The current prime
minister is
Juha SipiläJuha Sipilä (Centre Party). Each minister heads his or
her ministry, or, in some cases, has responsibility for a subset of a
ministry's policy. After the prime minister, the most powerful
minister is the minister of finance. The incumbent Minister of Finance
is Petteri Orpo.
As no one party ever dominates the parliament, Finnish cabinets are
multi-party coalitions. As a rule, the post of prime minister goes to
the leader of the biggest party and that of the minister of finance to
the leader of the second biggest.
Law[edit]
Main articles:
Law of Finland and Judicial system of Finland
The judicial system of
FinlandFinland is a civil law system divided between
courts with regular civil and criminal jurisdiction and administrative
courts with jurisdiction over litigation between individuals and the
public administration. Finnish law is codified and based on Swedish
law and in a wider sense, civil law or Roman law. The court system for
civil and criminal jurisdiction consists of local courts
(käräjäoikeus, tingsrätt), regional appellate courts (hovioikeus,
hovrätt), and the Supreme
CourtCourt (korkein oikeus, högsta domstolen).
The administrative branch of justice consists of administrative courts
(hallinto-oikeus, förvaltningsdomstol) and the Supreme Administrative
CourtCourt (korkein hallinto-oikeus, högsta förvaltningsdomstolen). In
addition to the regular courts, there are a few special courts in
certain branches of administration. There is also a High
CourtCourt of
Impeachment for criminal charges against certain high-ranking
officeholders.
Around 92% of residents have confidence in Finland's security
institutions.[86] The overall crime rate of
FinlandFinland is not high in the
EU context. Some crime types are above average, notably the highest
homicide rate in Western Europe.[87] A day fine system is in effect
and also applied to offenses such as speeding.
FinlandFinland has successfully fought against government corruption, which
was more common in the 1970s and 80s.[88][verification needed] For
instance, economic reforms and EU membership introduced stricter
requirements for open bidding and many public monopolies were
abolished.[88] Today,
FinlandFinland has a very low number of corruption
charges;
Transparency InternationalTransparency International ranks
FinlandFinland as one of the least
corrupt countries in Europe.
In 2008,
Transparency InternationalTransparency International criticized the lack of
transparency of the system of Finnish political finance.[89] According
to GRECO in 2007, corruption should be taken into account in the
Finnish system of election funds better.[90] A scandal revolving
around campaign finance of the 2007 parliamentary elections broke out
in spring 2008. Nine Ministers of Government submitted incomplete
funding reports and even more of the members of parliament. The law
includes no punishment of false funds reports of the elected
politicians.
Foreign relations[edit]
Main article: Foreign relations of Finland

According to the 2012 constitution, the president (currently Sauli
Niinistö) leads foreign policy in cooperation with the government,
except that the president has no role in EU affairs.[91]
In 2008, president
Martti AhtisaariMartti Ahtisaari was awarded the Nobel Peace
Prize.[92]
FinlandFinland was considered a cooperative model state, and
FinlandFinland did not oppose proposals for a common EU defence policy.[93]
This was reversed in the 2000s, when
Tarja HalonenTarja Halonen and Erkki Tuomioja
made Finland's official policy to resist other EU members' plans for
common defence.[93]
Social security[edit]
Main article: Social security in Finland
FinlandFinland has one of the world's most extensive welfare systems, one
that guarantees decent living conditions for all residents, Finns, and
non-citizens. Since the 1980s the social security has been cut back,
but still the system is one of the most comprehensive in the world.
Created almost entirely during the first three decades after
WorldWorld War
II, the social security system was an outgrowth of the traditional
Nordic belief that the state was not inherently hostile to the
well-being of its citizens, but could intervene benevolently on their
behalf. According to some social historians, the basis of this belief
was a relatively benign history that had allowed the gradual emergence
of a free and independent peasantry in the
Nordic countriesNordic countries and had
curtailed the dominance of the nobility and the subsequent formation
of a powerful right wing. Finland's history has been harsher than the
histories of the other Nordic countries, but not harsh enough to bar
the country from following their path of social development.[94]
Military[edit]

Sisu NasuSisu Nasu NA-110 tracked transport vehicle of the Finnish Army. Most
conscripts receive training for warfare in winter, and transport
vehicles such as this give mobility in heavy snow.

Main articles:
Finnish Defence ForcesFinnish Defence Forces and Military history of Finland
See also: List of wars involving Finland
The
Finnish Defence ForcesFinnish Defence Forces consist of a cadre of professional soldiers
(mainly officers and technical personnel), currently serving
conscripts, and a large reserve. The standard readiness strength is
34,700 people in uniform, of which 25% are professional soldiers. A
universal male conscription is in place, under which all male Finnish
nationals above 18 years of age serve for 6 to 12 months of armed
service or 12 months of civilian (non-armed) service. Voluntary
post-conscription overseas peacekeeping service is popular, and troops
serve around the world in UN, NATO, and EU missions. Approximately 500
women choose voluntary military service every year.[95] Women are
allowed to serve in all combat arms including front-line infantry and
special forces. The army consists of a highly mobile field army backed
up by local defence units. The army defends the national territory and
its military strategy employs the use of the heavily forested terrain
and numerous lakes to wear down an aggressor, instead of attempting to
hold the attacking army on the frontier.
Finnish defence expenditure per capita is one of the highest in the
European Union.[96] The Finnish military doctrine is based on the
concept of total defence. The term total means that all sectors of the
government and economy are involved in the defence planning. The armed
forces are under the command of the Chief of Defence (currently
General Jarmo Lindberg), who is directly subordinate to the president
in matters related to military command. The branches of the military
are the army, the navy, and the air force. The border guard is under
the Ministry of the Interior but can be incorporated into the Defence
Forces when required for defence readiness.
Even while
FinlandFinland hasn't joined the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization, the country has joined the NATO Response Force, the EU
Battlegroup,[citation needed] the NATO
Partnership for PeacePartnership for Peace and in
signed a NATO memorandum of understanding,[97] thus forming a
practical coalition.[18] In 2015, the Finland-NATO ties were
strengthened with a host nation support agreement allowing assistance
from NATO troops in emergency situations.[98]
FinlandFinland has been active
participant in the Afghanistan and Kosovo.[99][100] Recently Finland
has been more eager to discuss about its current and planned roles in
Syria, Iraq and war against ISIL.[101] On 21 December 2012 Finnish
military officer Atte Kaleva was reported to have been kidnapped and
later released in Yemen for ransom. At first he was reported be a
casual Arabic student, however only later it was published that his
studies were about jihadists, terrorism, and that he was employed by
the military.[102][103] As response to French request for solidarity,
Finnish defence minister commented in November that
FinlandFinland could and
is willing to offer intelligence support.[104]
In May 2015, Finnish Military sent nearly one million letters to all
relevant males in the country, informing them about their roles in the
war effort. It was globally speculated that
FinlandFinland was preparing for
war—however
FinlandFinland claimed that this was a standard procedure, yet
something never done before in Finnish history.[105] Mr Hypponen
however said that this is not an isolated case, but bound to the
European security dilemma.[105] The NATO Memorandum of Understanding
signed earlier bestows an obligation e.g. to report on internal
capabilities and the availability thereof to NATO.[97]
Economy[edit]

Angry Birds, a mobile phone game developed in Finland, has become a
commercial hit both domestically and internationally.

Main article: Economy of Finland
See also:
List of companies of FinlandList of companies of Finland and
HelsinkiHelsinki Stock Exchange
The economy of
FinlandFinland has a per capita output equal to that of other
European economies such as those of France, Germany, Belgium, or the
UK. The largest sector of the economy is the service sector at 66% of
GDP, followed by manufacturing and refining at 31%. Primary production
represents 2.9%.[106] With respect to foreign trade, the key economic
sector is manufacturing. The largest industries in 2007[107] were
electronics (22%); machinery, vehicles, and other engineered metal
products (21.1%); forest industry (13%); and chemicals (11%). The
gross domestic product peaked in 2008. As of 2015[update], the
country's economy is at the 2006 level.[108][109]
FinlandFinland has significant timber, mineral (iron, chromium, copper,
nickel, and gold), and freshwater resources. Forestry, paper
factories, and the agricultural sector (on which taxpayers
spend[clarification needed] around 3 billion euros annually) are
important for rural residents so any policy changes affecting these
sectors are politically sensitive for politicians dependent on rural
votes. The Greater
HelsinkiHelsinki area generates around one third of
Finland's GDP. In a 2004
OECDOECD comparison, high-technology
manufacturing in
FinlandFinland ranked second largest after Ireland.
Knowledge-intensive services have also resulted in the smallest and
slow-growth sectors – especially agriculture and low-technology
manufacturing – being ranked the second largest after Ireland.[110]
The overall short-term outlook was good and GDP growth has been above
that of many EU peers.[citation needed]

FinlandFinland is highly integrated into the global economy, and
international trade produces one third of GDP[citation needed]. Trade
with the
European UnionEuropean Union makes up 60% of Finland's total trade[citation
needed]. The largest trade flows are with Germany, Russia, Sweden, the
United Kingdom, the United States, the Netherlands, and China. Trade
policy is managed by the European Union, where
FinlandFinland has
traditionally been among the free trade supporters, except for
agricultural policy[citation needed].
FinlandFinland is the only Nordic
country to have joined the Eurozone.
Finland's climate and soils make growing crops a particular challenge.
The country lies between the latitudes 60°N and 70°N, and it has
severe winters and relatively short growing seasons that are sometimes
interrupted by frost. However, because the
Gulf StreamGulf Stream and the North
Atlantic Drift Current moderate the climate,
FinlandFinland contains half of
the world's arable land north of 60° north latitude. Annual
precipitation is usually sufficient, but it occurs almost exclusively
during the winter months, making summer droughts a constant threat. In
response to the climate, farmers have relied on quick-ripening and
frost-resistant varieties of crops, and they have cultivated
south-facing slopes as well as richer bottomlands to ensure production
even in years with summer frosts. Most farmland was originally either
forest or swamp, and the soil has usually required treatment with lime
and years of cultivation to neutralize excess acid and to improve
fertility. Irrigation has generally not been necessary, but drainage
systems are often needed to remove excess water. Finland's agriculture
has been efficient and productive—at least when compared with
farming in other European countries.[94]
Forests play a key role in the country's economy, making it one of the
world's leading wood producers and providing raw materials at
competitive prices for the crucial wood-processing industries. As in
agriculture, the government has long played a leading role in
forestry, regulating tree cutting, sponsoring technical improvements,
and establishing long-term plans to ensure that the country's forests
continue to supply the wood-processing industries. To maintain the
country's comparative advantage in forest products, Finnish
authorities moved to raise lumber output toward the country's
ecological limits. In 1984, the government published the Forest 2000
plan, drawn up by the Ministry of
AgricultureAgriculture and Forestry. The plan
aimed at increasing forest harvests by about 3% per year, while
conserving forestland for recreation and other uses.[94]
Private sector employees amount to 1.8 million, out of which around a
third with tertiary education. The average cost of a private sector
employee per hour was 25.1 euros in 2004.[111] As of 2008[update],
average purchasing power-adjusted income levels are similar to those
of Italy, Sweden, Germany, and France.[112] In 2006, 62% of the
workforce worked for enterprises with less than 250 employees and they
accounted for 49% of total business turnover and had the strongest
rate of growth.[113] The female employment rate is high. Gender
segregation between male-dominated professions and female-dominated
professions is higher than in the US.[114] The proportion of part-time
workers was one of the lowest in
OECDOECD in 1999.[114] In 2013, the 10
largest private sector employers in
FinlandFinland were Itella, Nokia,
OP-Pohjola, ISS, VR, Kesko, UPM-Kymmene, YIT, Metso, and Nordea.[115]
The unemployment rate was 9.4% in 2015, having risen from 8.7% in
2014.[116] Youth unemployment rate rose from 16.5% in 2007 to 20.5% in
2014.[117] A fifth of residents are outside the job market at the age
of 50 and less than a third are working at the age of 61.[118] As of
today, nearly one million people are living with minimal wages or
unemployed not enough to cover their costs of living.[119]
As of 2006[update], 2.4 million households reside in Finland. The
average size is 2.1 persons; 40% of households consist of a single
person, 32% two persons and 28% three or more persons. Residential
buildings total 1.2 million, and the average residential space is 38
square metres (410 sq ft) per person. The average
residential property without land costs 1,187 euro per sq metre and
residential land 8.6 euro per sq metre. 74% of households had a car.
There are 2.5 million cars and 0.4 million other vehicles.[120]
Around 92% have a mobile phone and 83.5% (2009) Internet connection at
home. The average total household consumption was 20,000 euro, out of
which housing consisted of about 5,500 euro, transport about 3,000
euro, food and beverages excluding alcoholic beverages at around 2,500
euro, and recreation and culture at around 2,000 euro.[121] According
to Invest in Finland, private consumption grew by 3% in 2006 and
consumer trends included durables, high quality products, and spending
on well-being.[122]
Energy[edit]

The two existing units of the Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant. On the
far left is a visualization of a third unit, which, when completed,
will become Finland's fifth commercial nuclear reactor.[123]

See also:
Nordic energy marketNordic energy market and Nuclear power in Finland
The free and largely privately owned financial and physical Nordic
energy markets traded in NASDAQ OMX Commodities
EuropeEurope and Nord Pool
Spot exchanges, have provided competitive prices compared with other
EU countries. As of 2007[update],
FinlandFinland has roughly the lowest
industrial electricity prices in the
EU-15EU-15 (equal to France).[124]
In 2006, the energy market was around 90 terawatt hours and the peak
demand around 15 gigawatts in winter. This means that the energy
consumption per capita is around 7.2 tons of oil equivalent per year.
Industry and construction consumed 51% of total consumption, a
relatively high figure reflecting Finland's industries.[125][126]
Finland's hydrocarbon resources are limited to peat and wood. About
10–15% of the electricity is produced by hydropower,[127] which is
low compared with more mountainous
SwedenSweden or Norway. In 2008,
renewable energy (mainly hydropower and various forms of wood energy)
was high at 31% compared with the EU average of 10.3% in final energy
consumption.[128]

Supply and total consumption of electricity in Finland[129]

FinlandFinland has four privately owned nuclear reactors producing 18% of the
country's energy[130] and one research reactor at the
OtaniemiOtaniemi campus.
The fifth AREVA-Siemens-built reactor—the world's largest at 1600
MWeMWe and a focal point of Europe's nuclear industry—has faced many
delays and is currently scheduled to be operational by 2018–2020, a
decade after the original planned opening.[131] A varying amount
(5–17%) of electricity has been imported from
RussiaRussia (at around 3
gigawatt power line capacity),
SwedenSweden and Norway.
Energy companies are about to increase nuclear power production, as in
July 2010 the Finnish parliament granted permits for additional two
new reactors.
Transport[edit]
Main article: Transport in Finland

Icebreakers enable shipping even during severe winters.

The state-owned
VR GroupVR Group operates a railway network serving all major
cities.

The extensive road system is utilized by most internal cargo and
passenger traffic. The annual state operated road network expenditure
of around 1 billion euro is paid with vehicle and fuel taxes which
amount to around 1.5 billion euro and 1 billion euro.
The main international passenger gateway is
HelsinkiHelsinki Airport with
about 17 million passengers in 2016.
OuluOulu Airport is the second
largest, whilst another 25 airports have scheduled passenger
services.[132] The
HelsinkiHelsinki Airport-based Finnair, Blue1, and Nordic
Regional Airlines,
Norwegian Air ShuttleNorwegian Air Shuttle sell air services both
domestically and internationally.
HelsinkiHelsinki has an optimal location for
great circle (i.e. the shortest and most efficient) routes between
Western
EuropeEurope and the Far East.
Despite low population density, the Government spends annually around
350 million euro in maintaining 5,865 kilometres (3,644 mi) of
railway tracks. Rail transport is handled by state owned VR Group,
which has 5% passenger market share (out of which 80% are urban trips
in Greater Helsinki) and 25% cargo market share.[133] Since 12
December 2010, Karelian Trains, a joint venture between Russian
Railways and VR (Finnish Railways), has been running Alstom Pendolino
operated high-speed services between Saint Petersburg's Finlyandsky
and Helsinki's Central railway stations. These services are branded as
"Allegro" trains. The journey from
HelsinkiHelsinki to
Saint PetersburgSaint Petersburg takes
only three and a half hours.
The majority of international cargo utilizes ports. Port logistics
prices are low.
Vuosaari HarbourVuosaari Harbour in
HelsinkiHelsinki is the largest container
port after completion in 2008 and others include Kotka, Hamina, Hanko,
Pori, Rauma, and Oulu. There is passenger traffic from
HelsinkiHelsinki and
Turku, which have ferry connections to Tallinn, Mariehamn, Stockholm
and Travemünde. The Helsinki-
TallinnTallinn route, one of the busiest
passenger sea routes in the world, has also been served by a
helicopter line.
Industry[edit]
Main article: Economy of Finland

FinlandFinland was rapidly industrialized after
WorldWorld War II, achieving GDP
per capita levels equal to that of
JapanJapan or the UK in the beginning of
the 1970s. Initially, most development was based on two broad groups
of export-led industries, the "metal industry" (metalliteollisuus) and
"forest industry" (metsäteollisuus). The "metal industry" includes
shipbuilding, metalworking, the car industry, engineered products such
as motors and electronics, and production of metals (steel, copper and
chromium). The world's biggest cruise ships are built in Finnish
shipyards. The "forest industry" (metsäteollisuus) includes forestry,
timber, pulp and paper, and is a logical development based on
Finland's extensive forest resources (77% of the area is covered by
forest, most of it in renewable use). In the pulp and paper industry,
many of the largest companies are based in
FinlandFinland (Ahlstrom, Metsä
Board, and UPM). However, the Finnish economy has diversified, with
expansion into fields such as electronics (e.g. Nokia), metrology
(Vaisala), transport fuels (Neste), chemicals (Kemira), engineering
consulting (Pöyry), and information technology (e.g. Rovio
Entertainment, known for Angry Birds), and is no longer dominated by
the two sectors of metal and forest industry. Likewise, the structure
has changed, with the service sector growing, with manufacturing
reducing in importance; agriculture is only a minor part. Despite
this, production for export is still more prominent than in Western
Europe, thus making
FinlandFinland more vulnerable to global economic trends.
In an
Economist Intelligence UnitEconomist Intelligence Unit report released in September 2011,
FinlandFinland clinched the second place after the United States on
Benchmarking IT Industry
CompetitivenessCompetitiveness 2011 which scored on 6 key
indicators: overall business environment, technology infrastructure,
human capital, legal framework, public support for industry
development, and research and development landscape.[134]
Public policy[edit]
See also: Nordic model
Finnish politicians have often emulated other Nordics and the Nordic
model.[135] Nordics have been free-trading and relatively welcoming to
skilled migrants for over a century, though in
FinlandFinland immigration is
relatively new. The level of protection in commodity trade has been
low, except for agricultural products.[135]
FinlandFinland has top levels of economic freedom in many
areas.[clarification needed]
FinlandFinland is ranked 16th in the 2008 global
Index of Economic Freedom and 9th in Europe.[136] While the
manufacturing sector is thriving, the
OECDOECD points out that the service
sector would benefit substantially from policy improvements.[137]
The 2007 IMD
WorldWorldCompetitivenessCompetitiveness Yearbook ranked
FinlandFinland 17th most
competitive.[138] The
World Economic ForumWorld Economic Forum 2008 index ranked Finland
the 6th most competitive.[139] In both indicators, Finland's
performance was next to Germany, and significantly higher than most
European countries. In the Business competitiveness index 2007–2008
FinlandFinland ranked third in the world.
Economists attribute much growth to reforms in the product markets.
According to the OECD, only four
EU-15EU-15 countries have less regulated
product markets (UK, Ireland,
DenmarkDenmark and Sweden) and only one has
less regulated financial markets (Denmark).
Nordic countriesNordic countries were
pioneers in liberalizing energy, postal, and other markets in
Europe.[135] The legal system is clear and business bureaucracy less
than most countries.[136] Property rights are well protected and
contractual agreements are strictly honoured.[136]
FinlandFinland is rated
the least corrupt country in the world in the Corruption Perceptions
Index[140] and 13th in the Ease of doing business index. This
indicates exceptional ease in cross-border trading (5th), contract
enforcement (7th), business closure (5th), tax payment (83rd), and low
worker hardship (127th).[141]
Finnish law forces all workers to obey the national contracts that are
drafted every few years for each profession and seniority level. The
agreement becomes universally enforceable provided that more than 50%
of the employees support it, in practice by being a member of a
relevant trade union. The unionization rate is high (70%), especially
in the middle class (AKAVA—80%). A lack of a national agreement in
an industry is considered an exception.[110][135]

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In 2005, Finnish tourism grossed over €6.7 billion with a 5%
increase from the previous year. Much of the sudden growth can be
attributed to the globalisation and modernisation of the country as
well as a rise in positive publicity and awareness. There are many
attractions in
FinlandFinland which attracted over 8 million visitors in
2013.
The Finnish landscape is covered with thick pine forests and rolling
hills, and complemented with a labyrinth of lakes and inlets. Much of
FinlandFinland is pristine and virgin as it contains 40 national parks from
the Southern shores of the
Gulf of FinlandGulf of Finland to the high fells of
Lapland.
FinlandFinland also has urbanised regions with many cultural events
and activities.
Commercial cruises between major coastal and port cities in the Baltic
region, including Helsinki, Turku, Tallinn, Stockholm, and
Travemünde, play a significant role in the local tourism industry.
FinlandFinland is locally regarded as the home of Saint Nicholas or Santa
Claus, living in the northern Lapland region.[142] Above the Arctic
Circle, in midwinter, there is a polar night, a period when the sun
does not rise for days or weeks, or even months, and correspondingly,
midnight sun in the summer, with no sunset even at midnight (for up to
73 consecutive days, at the northernmost point). Lapland is so far
north that the Aurora Borealis, fluorescence in the high atmosphere
due to solar wind, is seen regularly in the fall, winter, and spring.
Outdoor activities range from Nordic skiing, golf, fishing, yachting,
lake cruises, hiking, and kayaking, among many others. Wildlife is
abundant in Finland.
Bird-watchingBird-watching is popular for those fond of
avifauna, however hunting is also popular. Elk and hare are common
game in Finland.
OlavinlinnaOlavinlinna in
SavonlinnaSavonlinna hosts the annual Savonlinna
Opera Festival.
Demographics[edit]
Main article: Demographics of Finland

The population of
FinlandFinland is currently about 5.5 million inhabitants
and is aging with the birth rate at 10.42 births per 1,000 population
per year, or a fertility rate of 1.8 with a median age of 42.7 years.
Approximately half of voters are estimated to be over 50 years
old.[143][57][144][8]
FinlandFinland has an average population density of 18
inhabitants per square kilometre. This is the third-lowest population
density of any European country, behind those of
NorwayNorway and Iceland,
and the lowest population density in the EU. Finland's population has
always been concentrated in the southern parts of the country, a
phenomenon that became even more pronounced during 20th-century
urbanisation. The largest cities in
FinlandFinland are those of the Greater
HelsinkiHelsinki metropolitan area—Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa. Other cities
with population over 100,000 are Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Jyväskylä,
Kuopio, and Lahti.
As of 2014, there were 322,700 people with a foreign background living
in
FinlandFinland (5.9% of the population), most of whom are from Russia,
Estonia, Somalia, Iraq and Yugoslavia.[145] The children of foreigners
are not automatically given Finnish citizenship, as Finnish
nationality law practices and maintain jus sanguinis policy where only
children born to at least one Finnish parent are granted citizenship.
If they are born in
FinlandFinland and cannot get citizenship of any other
country, they become citizens.[146] Additionally, certain persons of
Finnish descent who reside in countries that were once part of Soviet
Union, retain the right of return, a right to establish permanent
residency in the country, which would eventually entitle them to
qualify for citizenship.[147]
Largest cities[edit]

v
t
e

Largest cities or towns in Finland
http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/sq/9af9ca56-9eea-4969-9714-db194f6847e5

With 3.9 million members[149], the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
FinlandFinland is one of the largest Lutheran churches in the world and is
also by far Finland's largest religious body; at the end of 2017,
70.9% of
FinnsFinns were members of the church.[148] 7 out of 10
FinnsFinns are
members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, which was
disestablished in 1869 by the Church Act. It was the first state
church to be disestablished in the Nordic countries, to be followed by
the Church of
SwedenSweden in 2000. The Evangelical Lutheran Church of
FinlandFinland sees its share of the country's population declining by
roughly one percent annually in recent years.[148] The decline has
been due to both church membership resignations and falling baptism
rates.[150][151] The second largest group, accounting for 26.3% of the
population[148] in 2017, has no religious affiliation. The irreligious
group rose quickly from just below 13% in the year 2000. A small
minority belongs to the
Finnish Orthodox ChurchFinnish Orthodox Church (1.1%). Other
ProtestantProtestant denominations and the Roman
Catholic ChurchCatholic Church are
significantly smaller, as are the Muslim, Jewish, and other
non-Christian communities (totalling 1.6%). The main Lutheran and
Orthodox churches are national churches of
FinlandFinland with special roles
such as in state ceremonies and schools.[152]
In 1869,
FinlandFinland was the first Nordic country to disestablish its
Evangelical Lutheran church by introducing the Church Act. Although
the church still maintains a special relationship with the state, it
is not described as a state religion in the Finnish Constitution or
other laws passed by the Finnish Parliament.[153] Finland's state
church was the Church of
SwedenSweden until 1809. As an autonomous Grand
Duchy under
RussiaRussia 1809–1917,
FinlandFinland retained the Lutheran State
Church system, and a state church separate from Sweden, later named
the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, was established. It was
detached from the state as a separate judicial entity when the new
church law came to force in 1869. After
FinlandFinland had gained
independence in 1917, religious freedom was declared in the
constitution of 1919 and a separate law on religious freedom in 1922.
Through this arrangement, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland
lost its position as a state church but gained a constitutional status
as a national church alongside the Finnish Orthodox Church, whose
position however is not codified in the constitution.
In 2016, 69.3% of Finnish children were baptized[154] and 82.3% were
confirmed in 2012 at the age of 15,[155] and over 90% of the funerals
are Christian. However, the majority of Lutherans attend church only
for special occasions like Christmas ceremonies, weddings, and
funerals. The Lutheran Church estimates that approximately 1.8% of its
members attend church services weekly.[156] The average number of
church visits per year by church members is approximately two.[157]
According to a 2010
Eurobarometer poll, 33% of Finnish citizens
responded that "they believe there is a God"; 42% answered that "they
believe there is some sort of spirit or life force"; and 22% that
"they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life
force".[158] According to ISSP survey data (2008), 8% consider
themselves "highly religious", and 31% "moderately religious". In the
same survey, 28% reported themselves as "agnostic" and 29% as
"non-religious".[159]
Health[edit]
Main article: Healthcare in Finland
Life expectancyLife expectancy has increased from 71 years for men and 79 years for
women in 1990 to 78 years for men and 84 years for women in 2012.[160]
The under-five mortality rate has decreased from 51 per 1,000 live
births in 1950 to 3 per 1,000 live births in 2012 ranking Finland's
rate among the lowest in the world.[161][162] The fertility rate in
2014 stood at 1.71 children born/per woman and has been below the
replacement rate of 2.1 since 1969.[163] With a low birth rate women
also become mothers at a later age, the mean age at first live birth
being 28.6 in 2014.[163]
There has been a slight increase or no change in welfare and health
inequalities between population groups in the 21st century.
Lifestyle-related diseases are on the rise. More than half a million
FinnsFinns suffer from diabetes, type 1 diabetes being globally the most
common in Finland. Many children are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
The number of musculoskeletal diseases and cancers are increasing,
although the cancer prognosis has improved. Allergies and dementia are
also growing health problems in Finland. One of the most common
reasons for work disability are due to mental disorders, in particular
depression.[164]
There are 307 residents for each doctor.[165] About 19% of health care
is funded directly by households and 77% by taxation.
A recent study by The Lancet medical journal found that
FinlandFinland has
the lowest stillbirth rate out of 193 countries, including the UK,
France, and New Zealand.[166] In April 2012,
FinlandFinland was ranked 2nd in
Gross National Happiness in a report published by The Earth
Institute.[167]
Education and science[edit]

Auditorium in Aalto University's main building, designed by Alvar
Aalto.

Pupils at the school of Torvinen in Sodankylä, Finland, in the 1920s

Main article: Education in Finland
See also:
List of universities in FinlandList of universities in Finland and List of schools in
Finland
Most pre-tertiary education is arranged at municipal level. Even
though many or most schools were started as private schools, today
only around 3 percent of students are enrolled in private schools
(mostly specialist language and international schools), much less than
in
SwedenSweden and most other developed countries.[168] Pre-school
education is rare compared with other EU countries and formal
education is usually started at the age of 7. Primary school takes
normally six years and lower secondary school three years. Most
schools are managed by municipal officials.
The flexible curriculum is set by the Ministry of Education and the
Education Board. Education is compulsory between the ages of 7 and 16.
After lower secondary school, graduates may either enter the workforce
directly, or apply to trade schools or gymnasiums (upper secondary
schools). Trade schools offer a vocational education: approximately
40% of an age group choose this path after the lower secondary
school.[169] Academically oriented gymnasiums have higher entrance
requirements and specifically prepare for
AbiturAbitur and tertiary
education. Graduation from either formally qualifies for tertiary
education.
In tertiary education, two mostly separate and non-interoperating
sectors are found: the profession-oriented polytechnics and the
research-oriented universities. Education is free and living expenses
are to a large extent financed by the government through student
benefits. There are 20 universities and 30 polytechnics in the
country. The University of
HelsinkiHelsinki is ranked 75th in the Top
University Ranking of 2010.[170] The
World Economic ForumWorld Economic Forum ranks
Finland's tertiary education No. 1 in the world.[171] Around 33% of
residents have a tertiary degree, similar to Nordics and more than in
most other
OECDOECD countries except Canada (44%), United States (38%) and
JapanJapan (37%).[172] The proportion of foreign students is 3% of all
tertiary enrollments, one of the lowest in OECD, while in advanced
programs it is 7.3%, still below
OECDOECD average 16.5%.[173]
More than 30% of tertiary graduates are in science-related fields.
Forest improvement, materials research, environmental sciences, neural
networks, low-temperature physics, brain research, biotechnology,
genetic technology, and communications showcase fields of study where
Finnish researchers have had a significant impact.[174]
FinlandFinland has a long tradition of adult education, and by the 1980s
nearly one million
FinnsFinns were receiving some kind of instruction each
year. Forty percent of them did so for professional reasons. Adult
education appeared in a number of forms, such as secondary evening
schools, civic and workers' institutes, study centres, vocational
course centres, and folk high schools. Study centres allowed groups to
follow study plans of their own making, with educational and financial
assistance provided by the state. Folk high schools are a distinctly
Nordic institution. Originating in
DenmarkDenmark in the nineteenth century,
folk high schools became common throughout the region. Adults of all
ages could stay at them for several weeks and take courses in subjects
that ranged from handicrafts to economics.[94]
FinlandFinland is highly productive in scientific research. In 2005, Finland
had the fourth most scientific publications per capita of the OECD
countries.[175] In 2007, 1,801 patents were filed in Finland.[176]
In addition, 38 percent of Finland's population has a university or
college degree, which is among the highest percentages in the
world.[177][178]
In 2010 a new law was enacted considering the universities, which
defined that there are 16 of them as they were excluded from the
public sector to be autonomous legal and financial entities, however
enjoying special status in the legislation.[179] As result many former
state institutions were driven to collect funding from private sector
contributions and partnerships. The change caused deep rooted
discussions among the academic circles.[180]
English language is important in Finnish education. There are a number
of degree programs that are taught in English, which attracts
thousands of degree and exchange students every year.
In December 2017 the
OECDOECD reported that Finnish fathers spend an
average of eight minutes a day more with their school-aged children
than mothers do.[181][182]
Culture[edit]

Mikael Agricola, a Lutheran
ProtestantProtestant reformer and the father of the
Finnish written language.

Visual arts, design, and architecture[edit]
See also:
Architecture of FinlandArchitecture of Finland and Art in Finland
The visual arts in
FinlandFinland started to form their individual
characteristics in the 19th century, when Romantic nationalism was
rising in autonomic Finland. The best known of Finnish painters,
Akseli Gallen-Kallela, started painting in a naturalist style, but
moved to national romanticism. Finland's best-known sculptor of the
twentieth century was Wäinö Aaltonen, remembered for his monumental
busts and sculptures.
FinnsFinns have made major contributions to
handicrafts and industrial design: among the internationally renowned
figures are Timo Sarpaneva,
Tapio WirkkalaTapio Wirkkala and Ilmari Tapiovaara.
Finnish architecture is famous around the world, and has contributed
significantly to several styles internationally, such as Jugendstil
(or Art Nouveau),
Nordic ClassicismNordic Classicism and Functionalism. Among the top
twentieth-century Finnish architects to gain international recognition
are
Eliel SaarinenEliel Saarinen and his son Eero Saarinen. Architect
Alvar AaltoAlvar Aalto is
regarded as among the most important twentieth-century designers in
the world;[183] he helped bring functionalist architecture to Finland,
but soon was a pioneer in its development towards an organic
style.[184] Aalto is also famous for his work in furniture, lamps,
textiles and glassware, which were usually incorporated into his
buildings.
Music[edit]

Main articles: Music of Finland, Rock music in Finland, and Sami music
Classical[edit]
Much of Finland's classical music is influenced by traditional
Karelian melodies and lyrics, as comprised in the Kalevala. Karelian
culture is perceived as the purest expression of the Finnic myths and
beliefs, less influenced by Germanic influence than the Nordic folk
dance music that largely replaced the kalevaic tradition. Finnish folk
music has undergone a roots revival in recent decades, and has become
a part of popular music.
The people of northern Finland, Sweden, and Norway, the Sami, are
known primarily for highly spiritual songs called joik. The same word
sometimes refers to lavlu or vuelie songs, though this is technically
incorrect.
The first Finnish opera was written by the German-born composer
Fredrik PaciusFredrik Pacius in 1852. Pacius also wrote the music to the poem
Maamme/Vårt land (Our Country), Finland's national anthem. In the
1890s Finnish nationalism based on the
KalevalaKalevala spread, and Jean
Sibelius became famous for his vocal symphony Kullervo. He soon
received a grant to study runo singers in
KareliaKarelia and continued his
rise as the first prominent Finnish musician. In 1899 he composed
Finlandia, which played its important role in
FinlandFinland gaining
independence. He remains one of Finland's most popular national
figures and is a symbol of the nation.
Today,
FinlandFinland has a very lively classical music scene and many of
Finland's important composers are still alive, such as Magnus
Lindberg, Kaija Saariaho, Kalevi Aho, and Aulis Sallinen. The
composers are accompanied by a large number of great conductors such
as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Osmo Vänskä, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, and Leif
Segerstam. Some of the internationally acclaimed Finnish classical
musicians are Karita Mattila, Soile Isokoski, Pekka Kuusisto, Olli
Mustonen, and Linda Lampenius.
Modern[edit]

Iskelmä (coined directly from the German word Schlager, meaning
"hit") is a traditional Finnish word for a light popular song. Finnish
popular music also includes various kinds of dance music; tango, a
style of Argentine music, is also popular. The light music in
Swedish-speaking areas has more influences from Sweden. Modern Finnish
popular music includes a number of prominent rock bands, jazz
musicians, hip hop performers, dance music acts, etc.[citation needed]
During the early 1960s, the first significant wave of Finnish rock
groups emerged, playing instrumental rock inspired by groups such as
The Shadows. Around 1964,
BeatlemaniaBeatlemania arrived in Finland, resulting in
further development of the local rock scene. During the late 1960s and
1970s, Finnish rock musicians increasingly wrote their own music
instead of translating international hits into Finnish. During the
decade, some progressive rock groups such as Tasavallan Presidentti
and Wigwam gained respect abroad but failed to make a commercial
breakthrough outside Finland. This was also the fate of the rock and
roll group Hurriganes. The Finnish punk scene produced some
internationally acknowledged names including
Terveet Kädet in the
1980s.
Hanoi RocksHanoi Rocks was a pioneering 1980s glam rock act that inspired
the American hard rock group Guns N' Roses, among others.[185]
Many Finnish metal bands have gained international recognition. HIM
and
NightwishNightwish are some of Finland's most internationally known bands.
HIM's 2005 album Dark Light went gold in the United States.
ApocalypticaApocalyptica are an internationally famous Finnish group who are most
renowned for mixing strings-led classical music with classic heavy
metal. Other well-known metal bands are Amorphis, Children of Bodom,
Impaled Nazarene, Korpiklaani, Sentenced, Sonata Arctica,
Stratovarius, Turisas, Finntroll, Ensiferum, Insomnium, Moonsorrow,
Wintersun, Poets of the Fall, and Waltari.[citation needed]
After Finnish hard rock/heavy metal band
LordiLordi won the 2006 Eurovision
Song Contest,
FinlandFinland hosted the competition in 2007.[186]
Cinema and television[edit]
Main articles:
Cinema of FinlandCinema of Finland and Television in Finland
See also: Lists of Finnish films
In the film industry, notable directors include Aki Kaurismäki,
Mauritz Stiller, Spede Pasanen, and Hollywood film director and
producer Renny Harlin. Around twelve feature films are made each
year.[187]
Finland's most internationally successful TV shows are the backpacking
travel documentary series
MadventuresMadventures and the reality TV show The
Dudesons, about four childhood friends who perform stunts and play
pranks on each other (in similar vein to the American TV show
Jackass).
Media and communications[edit]

Linus Torvalds, the Finnish software engineer best known for creating
the popular open-source kernel Linux.

See also:
Telecommunications in Finland and List of newspapers in
Finland
Thanks to its emphasis on transparency and equal rights, Finland's
press has been rated the freest in the world.[188]
Today, there are around 200 newspapers, 320 popular magazines, 2,100
professional magazines, 67 commercial radio stations, three digital
radio channels and one nationwide and five national public service
radio channels.
Each year, around 12,000 book titles are published and 12 million
records are sold.[187]
SanomaSanoma publishes the newspaper
Helsingin SanomatHelsingin Sanomat (its circulation of
412,000[189] making it the largest), the tabloid Ilta-Sanomat, the
commerce-oriented
TaloussanomatTaloussanomat and the television channel Nelonen.
The other major publisher
Alma MediaAlma Media publishes over thirty magazines,
including the newspaper Aamulehti, tabloid
IltalehtiIltalehti and
commerce-oriented Kauppalehti. Worldwide, Finns, along with other
Nordic peoples and the Japanese, spend the most time reading
newspapers.[190]
Yle, the Finnish Broadcasting Company, operates five television
channels and thirteen radio channels in both national languages. Yle
is funded through a mandatory television license and fees for private
broadcasters. All TV channels are broadcast digitally, both
terrestrially and on cable. The commercial television channel
MTV3MTV3 and
commercial radio channel Radio Nova are owned by Nordic Broadcasting
(Bonnier and Proventus Industrier).
In regards to telecommunication infrastructure,
FinlandFinland is the highest
ranked country in the
WorldWorld Economic Forum's Network Readiness Index
(NRI) – an indicator for determining the development level of a
country's information and communication technologies.
FinlandFinland ranked
1st overall in the 2014 NRI ranking, unchanged from the year
before.[191] This is shown in its penetration throughout the country's
population. Around 79% of the population use the Internet.[192]
FinlandFinland had around 1.52 million broadband Internet connections by the
end of June 2007 or around 287 per 1,000 inhabitants.[193] All Finnish
schools and public libraries have Internet connections and computers
and most residents have a mobile phone. Value-added services are
rare.[194] In October 2009, Finland's Ministry of Transport and
Communications committed to ensuring that every person in Finland
would be able to access the Internet at a minimum speed of one
megabit-per-second beginning July 2010.[195]
Cuisine[edit]
Main article: Finnish cuisine

Karelian pasty (karjalanpiirakka) is a traditional Finnish dish made
from a thin rye crust with a filling of rice. Butter, often mixed with
boiled egg (eggbutter or munavoi), is spread over the hot pastries
before eating.

Finnish cuisineFinnish cuisine is notable for generally combining traditional country
fare and haute cuisine with contemporary style cooking. Fish and meat
play a prominent role in traditional Finnish dishes from the western
part of the country, while the dishes from the eastern part have
traditionally included various vegetables and mushrooms. Refugees from
KareliaKarelia contributed to foods in eastern Finland.
Finnish foods often use wholemeal products (rye, barley, oats) and
berries (such as bilberries, lingonberries, cloudberries, and sea
buckthorn). Milk and its derivatives like buttermilk are commonly used
as food, drink, or in various recipes. Various turnips were common in
traditional cooking, but were replaced with the potato after its
introduction in the 18th century.
According to the statistics, red meat consumption has risen, but still
FinnsFinns eat less beef than many other nations, and more fish and
poultry. This is mainly because of the high cost of meat in Finland.
FinlandFinland is the top world consumer of coffee per capita.[196]
Public holidays[edit]
Main articles:
Public holidays in Finland and Flag days in Finland
All official holidays in
FinlandFinland are established by Acts of
Parliament. Christian holidays include Christmas, New Year's Day,
Epiphany, Easter, Ascension Day, Pentecost,
MidsummerMidsummer Day (St. John's
Day), and All Saints' Day, while secular holidays include May Day,
Independence Day, New Year's Day, and Midsummer. Christmas is the most
extensively celebrated, and at least 24 to 26 December is taken as a
holiday.
Sports[edit]

Finland's men's national ice hockey team is ranked as one of the best
in the world. The team has won two world championship titles (in 1995
& 2011) and six Olympic medals.

Main article: Sport in Finland
Various sporting events are popular in Finland. Pesäpallo, resembling
baseball, is the national sport of Finland, although the most popular
sports in terms of spectators is ice hockey. Ice Hockey World
Championships 2016 final Finland-Canada, 69% Finnish people watched
that game on TV.[197] Other popular sports include athletics,
cross-country skiing, ski jumping, football and basketball.[198] While
ice hockey is the most popular sports when it comes to attendance at
games, association football is the most played team sport in terms of
the amount of players in the country and is also the most appreciated
sports in Finland.[199][200]
In terms of medals and gold medals won per capita,
FinlandFinland is the best
performing country in Olympic history.[201]
FinlandFinland first participated
as a nation in its own right at the
Olympic GamesOlympic Games in 1908, while still
an autonomous Grand Duchy within the Russian Empire. At the 1912
Summer Olympics, great pride was taken in the three gold medals won by
the original "Flying Finn" Hannes Kolehmainen.
FinlandFinland was one of the most successful countries at the Olympic Games
before
WorldWorld War II. At the 1924 Summer Olympics, Finland, a nation
then of only 3.2 million people, came second in the medal count. In
the 1920s and 1930s, Finnish long-distance runners dominated the
Olympics, with
Paavo NurmiPaavo Nurmi winning a total of nine Olympic gold medals
between 1920 and 1928 and setting 22 official world records between
1921 and 1931. Nurmi is often considered the greatest Finnish
sportsman and one of the greatest athletes of all time.
For over 100 years, Finnish male and female athletes have consistently
excelled at the javelin throw. The event has brought
FinlandFinland nine
Olympic gold medals, five world championships, five European
championships, and 24 world records.
In addition to Kolehmainen and Nurmi, some of Finland's most
internationally well-known and successful sportspeople are
long-distance runners
Ville RitolaVille Ritola and Lasse Virén; ski-jumpers Matti
Nykänen and Janne Ahonen; cross-country skiers Veikko Hakulinen, Eero
Mäntyranta,
Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi and Mika Myllylä; rower Pertti
Karppinen; gymnast Heikki Savolainen; professional skateboarder Arto
Saari; ice hockey players Kimmo Timonen, Jari Kurri, Teemu Selänne,
and Saku Koivu; football players
Jari LitmanenJari Litmanen and Sami Hyypiä;
basketball player Hanno Möttölä; alpine skiers
Kalle PalanderKalle Palander and
Tanja Poutiainen; Formula One world champions Keke Rosberg, Mika
Häkkinen and Kimi Räikkönen; four-time
WorldWorld Rally champions Juha
Kankkunen and Tommi Mäkinen; and 13-time
WorldWorldEnduroEnduro Champion Juha
Salminen, seven-time champion Kari Tiainen, and the five-time
champions Mika Ahola, biathlete
Kaisa MäkäräinenKaisa Mäkäräinen and Samuli Aro.
FinlandFinland is also one of the most successful nations in bandy, being the
only nation beside
RussiaRussia and
SwedenSweden to win a
BandyBandy World
Championship.
The
1952 Summer Olympics1952 Summer Olympics were held in Helsinki. Other notable sporting
events held in
FinlandFinland include the 1983 and 2005
WorldWorld Championships
in Athletics.
FinlandFinland also has a notable history in figure skating. Finnish skaters
have won 8 world championships and 13 junior world cups in
synchronized skating, and
FinlandFinland is considered one of the best
countries at the sport.
Some of the most popular recreational sports and activities include
floorball, Nordic walking, running, cycling, and skiing (alpine
skiing, cross-country skiing, and ski jumping). Floorball, in terms of
registered players, occupies third place after football and ice
hockey. According to the Finnish
FloorballFloorball Federation, floorball is
the most popular school, youth, club and workplace sport.[202] As of
2016, the total number of licensed players reaches 57,400.[203]
Especially since the 2014 FIBA
BasketballBasketballWorldWorld Cup, Finland's
national basketball team has received widespread public attention.
More than 8,000
FinnsFinns travelled to
SpainSpain to support their team.
Overall, they chartered more than 40 airplanes.[204]
International rankings[edit]
The following list contains international comparisons of national
performance. The list has a maximum of three years per survey. For a
more comprehensive list, see International rankings of Finland.

"Finland". The
WorldWorld Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency.
FinlandFinland at Curlie (based on DMOZ)
FinlandFinland profile from the BBC News
Key Development Forecasts for
FinlandFinland from International Futures
Population in
FinlandFinland 1750–2010
Appendix figure 2. The largest groups by native language 2001 and 2011
(Statistics Finland)
Official statistical information about
FinlandFinland from Findicator.

1 Oceanic islands within the vicinity of
EuropeEurope are usually grouped
with the continent even though they are not situated on its
continental shelf.
2 Some countries completely outside the conventional geographical
boundaries of
EuropeEurope are commonly associated with the continent due to
ethnological links.